Dog the Bounty Hunter – God’s Bloodhound

Fake man or man of faith
Duane Chapman, who goes by the name “Dog the Bounty Hunter” is a head busting, TV star who chases criminals on the lam. He also claims to be a born-again Christian whose show on A&E is filled with biblical references and expressions of faith.

Before he goes to hunt a bounty, he gathers the family and they bow their heads and pray for safety and for the capture “in Jesus name.”

Right now, Chapman, his son Leland, and his friend Tim Chapman, face extradition to Mexico for their 2003 capture of Max Factor heir, Andrew Luster. Luster was convicted of drugging and raping three women and is currently serving a 124-year prison sentence.

Chapman could very serve time in jail himself for sneaking across the border and capturing Luster, ‘depriving him of liberty’ according to Mexican law. Chapman is currently free on $300,000 bail. He could face up to four years in prison.

If you have ever seen the show, you will see that there is a dichotomy. Chapman isn’t necessarily the best representative for Christianity. He tells criminals to freeze “#&*%” He has fathered multiple children from multiple women. And he looks – rough. But then again he just might be perfect for the job.

You see, Christ came to save sinners – and this muscle bound, chain smoking, leather clad rough-neck is among the worst. He served jail time himself – for accessory to murder, no less. But somewhere in time, he realized that he was on the wrong track – and is a living example of man trying to get it together.

I don’t know how to react when I see him curse or listen to his foul-mouth wife Beth berate someone. I don’t know how to react to see him wrestle a doped-up teen to the ground. I don’t know how to react, because this isn’t the lily-white Christianity I try to keep.

After a sometimes violent capture, Chapman uses the time in the car with the caught crook to deliver a message that might just turn him around. Moments before the crook is handed back to courts, Dog reads him the riot act – and often the gospel.

I do like the show – but am not settled. Is Chapman a Red Letter Christian, a believer who lives out Christ in profession? Or is he a poser, a phony who uses his faith for shock and for ratings. What’s your opinion?

Read the beliefnet interview